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Safety Joe

Chords

4.820 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

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Tuning: Standard
Intro:
G   C   D  C G
G   C   D    G
GWell, he never got too lonely
CAnd he never got too sad
DBut he never got too happy
CAnd that's what's just too Gbad
GHe never reached much further
CThan his lonely arms would go
DHe wore a seatbelt around his heart
And they called him Safety GJoe
Chorus:
GSafety Joe
Safety CJoe
GWhat do you say?
What do you Dknow?
If you don't Gloosen up the buckle
On your heart Cheart and start to chuckle
You're Dgonna die of boredom
Safety GJoe
GNow Joe he lived in Baltimore
C'Cause New York was too darn fast
DHe sometimes went down to Washington
Just to Cview our nation's Gpast
GHe never ate his vegetables
CCause they were just too darn chewy
DAnd he never climbed much higher
Than the arch in old St. GLouis
GJoe gradually grew meaner
CBy not changin' his demeanor
DBut he never did nothin'
Too much for too Glong
GTherefore his life never got much richer
CThan the day they took that picture
DIn his birthday suit on the day that he was Gborn.
You're Dgonna die of boredom
Safety GJoe

All chords in this song (3)

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Safety Joe

by John Prine

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuning: Standard

Intro:

G C D C G

G C D G

Well, he never got too lonely

And he never got too sad

But he never got too happy

C G

And that's what's just too bad

He never reached much further

Than his lonely arms would go

He wore a seatbelt around his heart

And they called him Safety Joe

Chorus:

Safety Joe

What do you say?

What do you know?

If you don't loosen up the buckle

On your heart heart and start to chuckle

You're gonna die of boredom

Safety Joe

Now Joe he lived in Baltimore

'Cause New York was too darn fast

He sometimes went down to Washington

C G

Just to view our nation's past

He never ate his vegetables

Cause they were just too darn chewy

And he never climbed much higher

Than the arch in old St. Louis

Joe gradually grew meaner

By not changin' his demeanor

But he never did nothin'

Too much for too long

Therefore his life never got much richer

Than the day they took that picture

D G

In his birthday suit on the day that he was born.

You're gonna die of boredom

Safety Joe

About Safety Joe Chords by John Prine

Learn how to play Safety Joe by John Prine with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Safety Joe chords”, “Safety Joe guitar chords”, or “John Prine Safety Joe chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Safety Joe chords and for experienced players who want accurate Safety Joe lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D.

FAQ — Safety Joe by John Prine

How do I play "Safety Joe" by John Prine on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Safety Joe" by John Prine on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Safety Joe" by John Prine free?

Yes. The chords for "Safety Joe" by John Prine are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Safety Joe" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Safety Joe" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Safety Joe"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Safety Joe" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Safety Joe" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Safety Joe" by John Prine with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by John Prine below.

What key is "Safety Joe" in?

The chords for "Safety Joe" show the original chord names (including G, C, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.